Table 2 Study characteristics of included studies

Carona et al., 2014 [24] (Portugal)

Cross-sectional

156 (epilepsy, n = 65; cerebral palsy, n = 91)

Epilepsy and cerebral palsy

Parent of a child aged 8–18 years who had been diagnosed with epilepsy or cerebral palsy by a physician, and assumed the primary caregiving role at the time of assessment.

Mother (87.7% epilepsy; 90.1% cerebral palsy)

42.42 years (7.20) epilepsy; 41.47 years (6.26) cerebral palsy

12.52 years (2.88) epilepsy; 12.07 years (2.82) cerebral palsy

Dardas & Ahmad, 2015 [23] (Jordan)

Cross-sectional

184

Autistic disorder

Parents of children under the age of 12 years with a clinical diagnosis of autistic disorder and could read and write in Arabic.

Mother, 62%

37 years (SD = 7.6, range from 21 to 69)

6.3 years (SD = 3, range = 2–12)

Grey et al., 2011 [63] (USA)

Randomized controlled trial

123 (coping skills training, n = 75; group education, n = 48)

Type 1 diabetes

Parent of a child who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes for at least 6 months and between the ages of 1–12 years.

95% mothers, 3% fathers; 2% guardians (female)

37.3 years (SD = 5.6, range = 26–51)

8.1 (2.9) coping skills training; 7.9 (2.8) group education

Guillamon et al., 2013 [48] (Spain)

Cross-sectional

62

Cerebral palsy

Father or mother of a child with cerebral palsy (aged less than 18 years) and was the main caregiver.

Mother, 88.7%

40.95 years (SD = 0.79, range = 29.53)

7.69 years (SD = 0.19, range = 1–17)

Hamama-Raz & Hamama, 2015 [60] (Israel)

Cross-sectional

48

Epilepsy

Parents of children between 6 and 19 years of age, with Hebrew speaking ability, with only minor learning difficulties, with 1–4 seizures a year, and with the absence of other chronic illnesses.

Mother, 85.42%

42.90 years (SD = 6.20)

13.71 years (SD = 3.02, range = 8–18)

Khanna et al., 2011 [52] (USA)

Cross-sectional

304

Autism

Primary caregivers of children with autism aged less than or equal to 18 years of age and had no more than one child diagnosed with autism.

Female, 93.1%; relationship not stated

38.9 years (SD = 8.0)

7% < 5 years of age; 44.1% 5-less than 10 years; 41.4% 10-less than 15 years; 6.6% 15–18 years of age

Khanna et al., 2013 [59] (USA)

Cross-sectional

316

Autism

Primary caregivers of children with autism who are aged 18 years or younger and have only one child with autism.

Mother, 91.5%

18–44 years, 69%; 45–64 years, 30.1%

< 5 years, 16.8%; 5–10 years, 46.5%; 11–18 years, 36.1%

Motaharian et al., 2015 [53] (Iran)

Cross-sectional

49

Hemophilia

Primary caregiver (primary responsibility of providing care to child) of a child (less than 18 years of age) with hemophilia.

Male, 71.4% (relation not stated)

40 years or younger (44.9%); Older than 40 years (55.1%)

Twelve years or younger (46.9%); Older than 12 years (53.1%

Raina et al., 2005 [54] (Canada)

Cross-sectional

468

Cerebral palsy

Primary caregiver who had a child who participated in the Ontario Motor Growth (OMG) study (explored patterns of gross motor development in children with cerebral palsy), lived with the child, and resided in Ontario.

Mother, 89.7%

40.3 years (SD = 6.72)

10.6 years (SD = 2.69)

Streisand et al., 2010 [57] (USA)

Cross-sectional

278

Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)

Parent or guardian who was the most informed about the child’s health, child who was less than 18 years of age and was diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.

Mother (biological, step, foster, or adoptive), 100%

Not reported

12.1 years (SD = 4.3, range = < 1–17)

Tseng et al., 2016 [49] (Taiwan)

Cross-sectional

167

Cerebral palsy

Primary caregiver of a child with cerebral palsy aged 4 to 12 years, diagnosed by a pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, or physiatrist, and without an additional diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease or psychiatric illness.

Mother, 82.0%; Father, 13.8%

40.24 years (SD = 5.43)

Range 4–12 years